Superconductivity in Correlated Multi-Orbital Systems with Spin-Orbit Coupling: Coexistence of Even- and Odd-Frequency Pairing and the Case of Strontium Ruthenate

TL;DR

This paper develops a comprehensive theory of superconductivity in strontium ruthenate, incorporating spin-orbit coupling and frequency dependence, revealing complex entanglement and mixing of pairing symmetries.

Contribution

It introduces a generalized frequency-dependent superconductivity theory with spin-orbit coupling for multi-orbital systems, applying it to strontium ruthenate.

Findings

Spin-orbit coupling causes entanglement of spin and orbital quantum numbers.

Mixing occurs between even- and odd-frequency correlations.

A phase diagram based on temperature-dependent symmetries is proposed.

Abstract

The superconducting order parameter of strontium ruthenate is the center of a lasting puzzle calling for theoretical studies that include the seldom-considered effects of spin-orbit coupling and the frequency-dependence of the order parameters. Here we generalize the frequency-dependent theory of superconductivity mediated by spin and charge fluctuations to include spin-orbit coupling in multi-orbital systems and we characterize the superconducting states using the spin-parity-orbital-time $SPOT$ quantum numbers, group theory, and phase distributions in the complex plane. We derive a pseudospin formulation that maps the inter-pseudospin sector of the normal state Eliashberg equation to a pseudospin-diagonal one. Possible superconducting order parameters for strontium ruthenate are obtained starting from a realistic density-functional-theory normal state. We find that spin-orbit coupling leads to ubiquitous entanglement of spin and orbital quantum numbers, along with notable mixing between even- and odd-frequency correlations. We propose a phase diagram obtained from the temperature dependence of the leading and subleading symmetries in the pseudospin-orbital basis. An accidental degeneracy between leading inter-pseudospin symmetries in strontium ruthenate, B$_{1g}^+$ and A$_{2g}^-$, could resolve apparent experimental contradictions.